By Kathy Fritsch

 

Everyone has heard of the quote by Plato, “Necessity, who is the mother of invention.”   Thank goodness for those who have come before us. We now have the much needed bird proof products!  Oh how they must have suffered before us, losing grain and seed, nuts and berries to the pest birds. 

 

Why Bird Proof

 

The obvious reason to bird proof your home is to protect against the damage the pest bird can do. If they are allowed to nest and roost in the eaves of your home, trees, or on top of your patio and roof, the destruction they can leave behind can be quite costly on your health as well as your pocket book. If they are allowed to roost and nest, their droppings over time can create a very unhealthy environment which includes over 60 different types of viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. These diseases can transfer to humans causing respiratory illnesses. The pest birds are also carriers of the West Nile virus and Bird Flu. Their droppings can also corrode building materials.   Bird droppings are highly acidic and can corrode wood, steel, concrete and paint to name a few. Once the damage has been done, the time and cost to clean up can be quite significant. It is important to protect against this unsightly and unhealthy development before it is a problem.

How to Bird Proof

 

First you want to identify the areas of concern on your property. Do you have fruit trees and a garden? Do you have an open patio with only slats as protection? Are there ledges and eaves near your doors and windows where the birds might comfortably nest?   If the answer is yes, you are in luck. There are many methods to deter the birds and have them fly right on over and beyond. There are physical, visual and sound bird proof deterrents.

 

Physical deterrents work by not allowing the birds to land on flat surfaces such as rooftops, ledges or fence posts. Bird spikes are one type of physical bird proof deterrent. They aid in keeping away the larger birds, such as crows or pigeons, from landing, roosting and nesting. They can be easily screwed in when the surface is wood or can be installed using a construction grade adhesive on other surfaces such as concrete, brick or steel. The virtually invisible bird spikes are usually made of either plastic or steel. They come in various widths, lengths and colors to best match the area you are using them in. They would be ideal to put around your patio covering so the birds cannot land and leave its droppings all over your patio furniture.  

 

Visual deterrents create an optical illusion that scares the pest birds away from the area. There are visual deterrents that look like they have a predator’s eye that can be hung in your trees, house eaves, or any overhang. It is made of a durable rugged plastic and works by tricking the birds and making it very uncomfortable for them. Using the same concept of scaring the birds away by a visual bird proof deterrent is also a solar bird repeller. It is a small solar powered unit that has a 5’ diameter continually sweeping arm with flash tape at the end of the arm that creates a movement that cares the pest birds away. It is great to use on your patio or patio cover. They are widely used in bird proofing boats as well.

 

Sound deterrents work wonders at keeping the pest birds out of your fruit trees. There are Supersonic units that can be programmed to play distress and predator calls intermittently. The unit is easily programmed to play 22 types of bird sounds. The sound deterrent covers up to 1 acre. It works well with any open space where pest birds are a problem.

Whether a physical, visual or sound bird proof deterrent is used separately or all together, it is important to note that there is no danger to the bird, household animals or humans.   It is simply a way to bird proof your home to keep it safe and secure.   A quote which sums it all up is, “Prevention is better than cure.”